Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2019)223 - Empowerment of Italy to conclude an agreement with Switzerland authorising cabotage operations in the course of transport services by coach and bus in the border regions - Main contents
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| dossier | COM(2019)223 - Empowerment of Italy to conclude an agreement with Switzerland authorising cabotage operations in the course of transport ... |
|---|---|
| source | COM(2019)223  |
| date | 13-05-2019 |
1. CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL
• Reasons for and objectives of the proposal
The border regions of Italy and Switzerland are closely integrated. Many Italians commute to work in Switzerland and vice versa and there is vibrant cross-border passenger traffic by road. A number of bus and coach services are offered which cross the border and thus connect the border regions of the two countries.
The two-way carriage of passengers and goods by road between Switzerland and the EU is regulated by the Land Transport Agreement between the EU and Switzerland 1 (hereinafter EU Agreement).
According to Article 20(1) of the EU Agreement, "[t]ransport between two points situated on the territory of the same Contracting Party by carriers established in the territory of the other Contracting Party are not authorised under this Agreement". This means that the carriers operating the passenger services which cross the border can only carry passengers across the border or within the territory of the Contracting Party they are established in. Bus and coach operators established in Switzerland may not carry passengers between two points on the Italian side of the border and operators established in the EU may not carry passengers between two points on the Swiss side of the border.
Article 20 i of the EU Agreement allows pre-existing rights under bilateral agreements concluded between individual EU Member States and Switzerland that were in force at the time of conclusion of the EU Agreement to continue to be exercised, provided there is no discrimination between EU carriers and no distortion of competition. Cabotage in passenger transport by coach and bus may thus be possible in relations with Switzerland in case an agreement between an EU Member State and Switzerland in force on 21 June 1999 had foreseen this. In practice, none of the relevant bilateral agreements between Member States and Switzerland that were in force at that time did foresee cabotage rights for passenger transport by coach and bus. 2
By letter dated 7 February 2018, Italy informed the Commission that it would like to negotiate and conclude an agreement with Switzerland which authorises cabotage operations during the provision of international passenger transport services by coach and bus in the border regions between the two countries. In the June 2018 meeting of the EU-Switzerland Inland Transport Committee, established by the EU Agreement, Switzerland informed the Commission that it was also interested in concluding such an agreement.
Cabotage in passenger transport by coach and bus can improve the efficiency of transport operations as it allows increasing the load factor of the vehicle. The EU is therefore generally favourable to the opening of the cabotage market, as it has done inside the EU in line with Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009 on common rules for access to the international market for coach and bus services 3 (hereinafter Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009). The authorisation of cabotage operations in the context of the provision of international passenger transport services by coach and bus in the border regions between Italy and Switzerland would allow the carriers involved to become more competitive and efficient.
Article 3 i of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) establishes that "[t]he Union shall also have exclusive competence for the conclusion of an international agreement when its conclusion is provided for in a legislative act of the Union or is necessary to enable the Union to exercise its internal competence, or in so far as its conclusion may affect common rules or alter their scope".
Under Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009, cabotage operations within the Union may be conducted, under certain conditions, exclusively by carriers holding a Community licence. International commitments permitting other carriers, in particular carriers from third countries, to conduct such operations affect the above mentioned Regulation, within the meaning of Article 3 i TFEU. 4
Furthermore, such international commitments also affect the EU Agreement, in particular its Article 20. They are not authorised by paragraph 1 of that Article, except as set out in its paragraph 2.
Consequently, commitments such as those intended by Italy fall within the scope of the Union's exclusive competence. However, in accordance with Article 2(1) TFEU, the Union may empower Member States to act in areas where it has exclusive competence.
The aim of this proposal is to empower Italy to negotiate and conclude an agreement with Switzerland that would authorise cabotage operations in the provision of cross-border road passenger transport services by bus and coach in the respective border regions of the two countries.
Cabotage operations within the Union by third country carriers, not holding a Community licence in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009, affect the functioning of the internal market for coach and bus services, as established by the Union legislator through Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009. It is therefore necessary that any empowerment under Article 2(1) TFEU be granted by the Union legislator, in accordance with the legislative procedure referred to in Article 91 TFEU.
• Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area
Currently, the EU Agreement does not authorise any cabotage operations in road passenger transport by coach and bus. However, Article 20 i of the EU Agreement specifically allows the continued exercise of pre-existing cabotage rights provided there is no discrimination between EU carriers and there will be no distortion of competition. An agreement between Italy and Switzerland that would authorise cabotage operations during the provision of international passenger transport services by coach and bus would not alter the rights of Switzerland under the EU Agreement. Moreover, the conclusion of a bilateral agreement limited to cabotage in the respective border regions and, in respect of non-discrimination and undistorted competition, subject to conditions identical to those established in Article 20 i of the EU Agreement, is in line with the policy underlying the exception set out in that provision.
Inside the EU, cabotage in road passenger transport by coach and bus is allowed in line with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009. Article 15 of that Regulation authorises cabotage operations within the EU (1) for occasional services, i for special regular services provided that they are covered by a contract concluded between the organiser and the carrier, and (3) for regular services in the course of a regular international service except for transport services meeting the needs of an urban centre or conurbation or transport needs between it and the surrounding areas. The operation of that Regulation would be affected by the conclusion of a bilateral road transport agreement as requested by Italy, but the affection would be sufficiently limited, in case the authorisation is given subject to the conditions described above.
• Consistency with other Union policies
An agreement between Italy and Switzerland that authorises cabotage operations during the provision of international passenger transport services by coach and bus in the respective border regions of the two countries would not be inconsistent with any other Union policy.
2. LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY
• Legal basis
The legal basis for this proposal is Articles 2(1) TFEU and 91 TFEU.
• Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)
The proposal falls under the exclusive competence of the Union.
• Proportionality
The objective of the proposal is to authorise, pursuant to Article 2(1) TFEU, the negotiation and conclusion of a bilateral agreement between Italy and Switzerland that authorises cabotage operations during the provision of international passenger transport services by coach and bus in the border regions between the two countries. Consequently, the proposed Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve this objective.
• Choice of the instrument
Cabotage operations within the Union by third country carriers, not holding a Community licence in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009, affect the functioning of the internal market for coach and bus services, as established by the Union legislator through Regulation (EC) No 1073/2009. It is therefore necessary that any empowerment under Article 2(1) TFEU be granted by the Union legislator, in accordance with the legislative procedure referred to in Article 91 TFEU. The proposed act, in its nature an individual empowerment, is to be adopted in response to a corresponding request made by Italy. It should therefore take the form of a decision, addressed to Italy. Consequently the proposed Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council represents an adequate instrument to empower Italy, in accordance with Article 2(1) TFEU, to act in this matter.
3. RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
• Stakeholder consultations
This proposal is based on a request by Italy and concerns only this Member State. A similar request has been received by Germany which is subject to a parallel procedure.
4. BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS
This proposal has no impact on the Union budget.